Deposed Ukrainian President Calls for Referendums Country-Wide

Ousted President Viktor Yanukovych calls for vote in every district 'for Russia or for Ukraine.'

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Tova Dvorin, 28/03/14 15:07

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych (file)

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Ukraine's deposed president, Viktor Yanukovich, called for each of the country's regions to hold a referendum on its status "within Ukraine" on Friday, following the successful move for Russia to annex the Crimean peninsula.

"As a president who is with you with all my thoughts and soul, I urge every sensible citizen of Ukraine: Don't give in to impostors! Demand a referendum on the status of each region within Ukraine," Yanukovich stated, as quoted by Russia's Itar-Tass news agency. The deposed president fled to Russia last month.

Russia sent 6,000 troops into the region at the beginning of the month, beginning a de facto military invasion which sparked already-tense conflicts between the Crimean population - much of which is ethnically Russian and has a pro-Russian majority - and the newly empowered Opposition government in Ukraine, which has sought to distance itself from Moscow.

Now, tensions have snowballed over the referendum throughout Ukraine, which is still reeling from a months-long struggle between anti-government protesters and police to gain control of the country which spiraled into crisis in December.

Over the past week, concerns have risen that the Crimean takeover could turn into a precedent for Ukraine to splinter further - especially over protests erupting in the pro-Russian province Donetsk, which analysts say bears similarity to the protests preceding the current crisis.

Earlier this week, the Tartars - an ethnic Muslim minority in both countries - began a push to hold their own referendum, citing the need to protect their national and cultural interests.